Looking for breakthrough ideas for innovation challenges? Try Patsnap Eureka!

Carbon Nanotube Mediated Membrane Extraction

a carbon nanotube and membrane technology, applied in solvent extraction, separation processes, transportation and packaging, etc., can solve the problems of difficult integrating cnts in the membrane and/or the membrane system, complex processes, and difficult separation of substantially pure polymeric membranes, etc., to improve the performance of the polymeric membrane or material.

Active Publication Date: 2009-11-19
NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
View PDF15 Cites 60 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present patent provides methods for introducing and immobilizing carbon nanotubes in membranes or substrates, which can improve the performance of the membrane or substrate. The methods involve introducing the carbon nanotubes into the substrate without substantially encapsulating them in a polymer or film. The carbon nanotubes can be introduced in various ways, such as by dispersing them in a solution or polymer and then introducing them into the substrate. The resulting membrane or substrate with the carbon nanotubes immobilized therein can have improved solute transport or exchange, making it useful in various applications such as liquid phase extraction or gas separation. The methods can be used with different types of substrates such as polymer, ceramic, metallic, or composite substrates.

Problems solved by technology

Assessments of permeability and selectivity have generally shown asymptotic limitations on the separation capability of substantially pure polymeric membranes (Refs.
In general, these processes are complex, time consuming, require strong interactions between the polymer and the inorganic filler, and they coat the particle with the polymer (Refs.
In general, incorporating CNTs in a membrane and / or membrane system is very challenging (e.g., without covering the active surface of the CNTs with the polymer).

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Carbon Nanotube Mediated Membrane Extraction
  • Carbon Nanotube Mediated Membrane Extraction
  • Carbon Nanotube Mediated Membrane Extraction

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example 1

[0050]Dispersible CNTs were synthesized via covalent functionalization using an exemplary rapid microwave process (Refs. 30-31). For example, CNTs containing —COOH, —NO2 and —HSO3 were synthesized by treatment with 1:1 HNO3 / H2SO4 in a closed vessel microwave for approximately 20 minutes, at about 120° C. and at atmospheric pressure (Ref. 31). It is noted that CNTs containing any suitable organic or an inorganic group (e.g., —COOH, —NO2, amides, —HSO3, polymers and biomolecules) may be utilized in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0051]Further derivatization such as, for example, amidation is also possible in the microwave reactor (Ref. 30). Once the CNTs were functionalized, they were sonicated in water, acetone or ethanol for a few minutes to form a substantially uniform dispersion (Refs. 30-31). The derivatized CNTs have been characterized by microscopy and spectroscopy (Refs. 30-32). The presence of some of these functional groups also improves the adhesion to the membrane ...

example 2

[0053]Another approach to synthesize a NIM was as follows: the base porous membrane was polypropylene hollow fiber membrane (Accurel Q3 / 2 polypropylene hollow fiber) with an average pore size of about 0.2 μm, inner diameter or I.D. of about 600 μm, and outer diameter or O.D. of about 1000 μm. The CNTs were immobilized within the membrane using a dispersion of functionalized CNTs in a polymer solution. Alternatively, the CNTs may be immobilized within the membrane using a dispersion of functionalized CNTs in a monomer solution, or any other suitable solution (e.g., methyl methacrylate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyurethane, polyamide, polyethylene and polyethylene glycol solutions). In an exemplary embodiment, the polymer selected was PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride). This was accomplished by first dissolving about 0.1 mg of PVDF in 15 ml of acetone and dispersing about 10 mg of MWNTs in PVDF / acetone solution by sonicating for 3-4 hours. Alternatively, the dispersion of CNTs may take a v...

example 3

Synthesis and Characterization of Functionalized CNTs

[0057]Approximately 20 mg of CNT was placed in a Teflon lined microwave vessel and about 50 ml of a 1:1 (v / v) HNO3(aq):H2SO4(aq) mixture was added and the vessel sealed before being placed in a MARS microwave reactor (CEM, Matthews, N.C., USA) for 20 minutes microwave exposure with temperature set at 120° C. The reaction was as shown in FIG. 1, which depicts the reaction equation for acid functionalization of MWNTs.

[0058]The mixture was then cooled, removed and filtered, and the solid allowed to air dry. The functionalized CNTs were then dispersed in distilled water by sonication. FIG. 2 illustrates the insolubility of pure CNT compared to the dispersible nature of the functionalized CNTs. More particularly, FIG. 2 illustrates that: (A) pure CNTs were inert and precipitated out of water; and (B) functionalization facilitated the dispersion of the CNTs in water after adequate sonication. Alternatively, the dispersion of CNTs may ta...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

PropertyMeasurementUnit
diameteraaaaaaaaaa
dispersionaaaaaaaaaa
metallicaaaaaaaaaa
Login to View More

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an improved membrane or substrate having carbon nanotubes introduced and / or immobilized therein, and an improved method for introducing and / or immobilizing carbon nanotubes in membranes or substrates. More particularly, the present disclosure provides for improved systems and methods for fabricating membranes or substrates having carbon nanotubes immobilized therein. In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides for systems and methods for introducing and / or immobilizing functionalized carbon nanotubes into the pore structure of a polymeric membrane or substrate, thereby dramatically improving the performance of the polymeric membrane or substrate. In exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure provides for systems and methods for the fabrication of nanotube immobilized membranes by incorporating CNTs in a membrane or substrate.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 051,877 filed May 9, 2008, all of which is herein incorporated in its entirety.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Technical Field[0003]The present disclosure relates to nanomaterial technology and, more particularly, to a membrane or substrate having carbon nanotubes introduced and / or immobilized therein and method for introducing and / or immobilizing carbon nanotubes in membranes or substrates.[0004]2. Background Art[0005]In general, membranes are permeable structures that facilitate the separation of solutes based on size and / or physical and chemical properties. Typical synthetic membranes may be fabricated from a variety of materials, such as, for example, metallic, ceramic or polymeric materials. Over the past few decades, membrane technology has generally made strides by developing materials that allow greater flux and selectivity (Ref. 1). In general, flux is associated with ...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): B01D61/00B32B5/16B05D3/06B01D61/36B01D53/22B05D3/10
CPCB01D67/0079B01D69/141B01D69/148B01D71/021B01D71/82Y10T428/25D01F11/10D01F11/16D06M11/74D06M15/256D06M23/08B82Y30/00B01D71/0212B01D67/00793
Inventor HYLTON, KAMILAHMITRA, SOMENATH
Owner NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Who we serve
  • R&D Engineer
  • R&D Manager
  • IP Professional
Why Patsnap Eureka
  • Industry Leading Data Capabilities
  • Powerful AI technology
  • Patent DNA Extraction
Social media
Patsnap Eureka Blog
Learn More
PatSnap group products

Browse by: Latest US Patents, China's latest patents, Technical Efficacy Thesaurus, Application Domain, Technology Topic, Popular Technical Reports.

© 2024 PatSnap. All rights reserved.Legal|Privacy policy|Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement|Sitemap|About US| Contact US: help@patsnap.com